NYT buries the Broad Prize story

Typical of the NY Times: it buried news of NYC winning the premier education prize in the country on page B6 and was sure to include plenty of snarky comments, without a single positive comment from anyone in NYC.  Shame, shame!

Although the prize will give the city a boost of attention, it is not quieting critics of the mayor and Mr. Klein. Before the award was announced, dozens of parents signed a letter to the foundation asking it not to give the  prize to New York. The letter said that the administration was “scornful” about parents’ concerns...
 
But back in New York City, David M. Quintana, a Queens parent who was consulted by officials judging the system,  said he was “disappointed” that the city had received the award.
 
“They were asking how our voices were heard,” Mr. Quintana said, “and across the board we told them that the city didn’t listen to our views.”
 
And Betsy Gotbaum, the city’s public advocate, who has been a vocal critic of Mr. Klein, said the award ignored many problems. “If we are No. 1 in terms of  achievement, it’s pretty sad news for the rest of the nation,” Ms. Gotbaum said in a statement.

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September 19, 2007
New York Schools Win Award for Improvement
By JENNIFER MEDINA
www.nytimes.com/2007/09/19/education/19prize.html <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/19/education/19prize.html>

New York City’s public school system, the largest in the country, yesterday won the Broad Prize, given each year to an urban school district that has made great improvements in student achievement, particularly in closing gaps between white and minority students.